All Season VA, LLC

Branding Your Online Presence

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Branding, as a whole, is essential for any serious business because a company's brand is what distinguishes it from its competitors. In today's computer age, it isnecessary for most businesses to have an online presence to stay competitive. An effective internet branding, just like its offline counterpart, helps bring awareness to your unique business offering and drive customer demand. In fact, your offline brand and your online brand should be very closely linked and unique to your business.

While Internet branding offers huge opportunities for business, in order for it to be effective one needs to attract and engage its customers. This isn't easy on the internet. Branding is not as easy as putting up a website and adding your company logo and slogan.Your internet branding strategy should make your online brand noticeable and apparent.

Branding utilizes hi-tech tools to create an online presence for your business. Graphics and animation, a compelling web copy, and overall website design that reflect your company are some of the important elements that will bring your online brand alive. An attractive and easy to "get around" website that helps customers easily and quickly find the information they need is the key to getting customer interaction and eventually, business. Your branding plan should include good design elements and ease of use to create an effective overall impression.

A strong online image will make the difference between a customer who buys from you online or switches to your competitors. Remember, that online customers can just leave your site and go to your competitors at the click of a mouse. A lot depends on the impression they get from your site. Branding seeks to convey an immediate unique message about your business to your target clients.

As you can see, there are many requirements for a successful branding strategy. Hiring a VA with branding strategies experience might be helpful to give you focus on your efforts in creating an online presence that will become a valuable asset to your business.

3 Great Reasons to Use Pinterest

Fri, 11 May 2012 04:55:00 +0000

Here’s what I’ve learned about using for your Business.

The growth of Pinterest is nothing but amazing! It’s very easy to learn, it’s very visual,and the ability to link your pins and photos back to your business blog orwebsite is huge!

Here’s a infographic from Mashable on Pinterest - http//pinterest.com/pin/52284045643958289/

I find that I’m using Pinterest for these 3 main reasons:

1) Graphics tell a story and help you connect with people much quicker than wordsalone, such as a blog post. In social media,we are all trying to get our clients to know, like and trust us first. Then Sharing our knowledge, ideas, and likes.Pinterestdoes just that. Your personality comesthrough on your Pins as well as the unique Boards you create and share.

2) Pinterest is like window shopping as you get tosee a picture that then links to a URL with a full description of your productor your affiliate product. Now, who doesnot like Window Shopping? Therise of online shopping has increased and continues to go up. It’s convenient, easy and available 24 |7. Local businesses as well as online businessescan utilize this outstanding Social Media and reach more actual shoppers whowill become customers.

3) Increase in Traffic and Referrals has been proven. Pinterest is referring more “eyes”than Facebook, and Twitter. As of As of January 2012, Pinterestaccounted for 3.6% of referral traffic. (Shareaholic). A call-to-action pindescription sees an 80% increase in engagement. (Pinerly Study). Pinterest referrals spend 70%more than visitors referred from non-social channels, including search,according to industry reports. (Wayfair). In the month of March 2012, HubSpot'svisitor-to-lead conversion rate for Pinterest was 15%, compared to just 9%from Google+. (HubSpot)

Also……NEW for WP Users……..

Just announced this week, a new Word Press Plug In WP Pinner which will be available soon, to manage your Pinterestaccount from your WP Dashboard will be available soon.

You’ll be able to:

· Auto-Pin Wordpress Posts

· Schedule your Pins during the day

· Auto-follow Pinterest Users

· Keep Track of your Pinterest Stats

· It’s being advertised as 100% FREE

· Runs on your WP Admin Dashboard

Here’s what Entrepreneur.com is saying about Pinterest-

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/222740

There you have it my reasons for loving Pinterest, so go out and get Pinning now!

Social Media Tips for Business

Wed, 02 May 2012 20:35:00 +0000

Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you are more efficient with yourparticipation in social networks and continue to work toward your goals.

· Havea plan for your social media. Are you going to use social mediaas an extension of your blog and share updates on your content? Do you want tomeet new business connections? Are you trying to create a greater sense ofcommunity? Are you trying to establish your business as a go-to resource on aspecific topic?

· Socialmedia success takes time. Unless you already have awell-established online presence, you may find that your foray into socialmedia may not produce the instant results you’re hoping for. The key is tostart making connections, getting to other influential people and workingtoward serving your audience.

· Analyzeyour competition. While you want to set yourself apart from everyoneelse making noise on social media, there is no need to completely reinvent thewheel. Watch what your competition does on social media. Who is doing well andwhy are they doing well? These are important things to know.

· Becareful with our social media management team.Hiring a team or individual to help you with your social media campaign is agood idea, but you need to make sure a consistent and appropriate message isshared. Set up well-defined guidelines to make sure everyone is on the samepage.

· Putsome effort into your profiles. Always fill out a profilecompletely and think about what your potential follower wants to know aboutyou. Use an appropriately professional image and update details as needed.

· Leteveryone know you’re on social media. Add “follow me” buttons toyour website, let your email subscribers know that there is a new way toconnect with you and include the information in your advertisements.Publicizing your participation is an important step into growing yourfollowing.

· Keepthe “social” in social media. While people love to hear frombusinesses and receive their updates, the focus should always be on the social.Keep your own focus on sharing helpful information, being helpful and avoidingconstant blatant self-promotion.

· Sharereadily. Building on the social aspect of social media,readily share the content of others. Sharing is a great way to meet new peopleand to be seen as a hub of helpful information in your topic area.

· Respondto those that engage you. Where possible, respond tocomments and engage your audience further. There’s nothing worse than abusiness page that shows no real interaction by the owner.

Above all, keep in mindthat you are still working and growing a business. You still need to developproducts, grow your mailing list and sell your products. Social media is agreat way to increase your exposure and connect more meaningfully with yourfollowers, and it should be a complement to your marketing activities ratherthan replacing them. Stay steady and focused and you’ll be seeing the benefitsof your participation, too.

The Importance of Web Video in Marketing

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:35:00 +0000

When you want your potential clients to Know, Like and Trust you....there is no better way to do this than with Online Video Marketing!

And.........If you are in the competitive field of Internet marketing, than you have probably realized that you must have the most current and technologically advanced methods of promoting your product or service, while many Internet marketers rely solely on text marketing, there are some that are moving into a modernized way of marketing. This method is through web videos, and it is quickly becoming one of the most vital ways for an Internet marketer to get information about their product or service to their customers. But why is web video so vital to the Internet marketer?

The main reason why web videos are so important to Internet marketers is because it allows them to connect with their potential customers on an intimate basis. Since there are so many Internet marketers consuming the web, it is extremely important that you stand out from the crowd. Also, another reason why Internet marketing is boosted by web videos is because it sets them apart from the various scams and other schemes that are surrounding the web.

More than likely, a customer has been scammed by an Internet marketer, thus many people do not pay heed to the marketing efforts that you put forth. A main reason for this is because you are following the same paths that many scammers have used. Thus, if you want to make a sale and gain the trust of a customer, than you must think outside of the box.

A great way to interact with your customers, and provide them with pivotal information is through using web videos. With a web video you are able to show the customer the product or service in action, without having to use fancy words or tricky sentences. You can be honest and upfront about the product and build a relationship with the customer. This is very important in turning a potential customer, into a purchasing customer. One great way to utilize web video is to simplify the product and give all of the information that the customer needs in less than three minutes. If you are able to successfully do this, you will help gain loyalty from the customer and they will be more likely to purchase your product or service.

Web videos are a great way to interact with potential customers, and also a great way to showcase your product. There are only so many words and photographs that you can use to get your message across, however, when you use video in conjunction with these other two communication methods, you will have a very successful stent at selling your product. They key to becoming a world class Internet marketer is to be honest, give important information and reason with the customers.

Allow them to feel that you understand where they are coming from, and how the product will actually enhance their life. And by using web videos, you are able to successfully do this. Remember, always make sure that the product is the star of your video and explain all of the benefits of owning this product or using your service.

Online Video Marketing

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Ноw tо Gеt Exposure wіth Yоur Videos

If you're going tо usе videos online tо help уоu market уоur goods оr services, іt іs іmроrtаnt tо knоw hоw tо gеt exposure. What's thе point оf а great video іf nо оnе іs watching іt? Whеn уоu create а video tо bе viewed оn thе web, еsресіаllу wіth thе intentions оf marketing а product оr service, уоu nееd tо knоw hоw tо gain exposure.

The good news іs thаt thе Internet іs suсh а wіdеlу growing phenomenon thаt mоrе аnd mоrе people аrе usіng іt оn а daily basis. It's easier thаn еvеr bеfоrе tо market оn thе internet аnd mаnу people еvеn report exposure tо mоrе Internet advertising thаn аnу оthеr form оf advertising іn existence today.

What dоеs thіs mеаn? Тhіs mеаns people аrе usіng thе Internet; уоur prospective clients оr consumers аrе usіng thе Internet. Whеn уоu learn tо usе videos tо market уоur product оr service properly оn thе net, уоu саn tаkе advantage оf thіs great opportunity tо gain exposure wіth уоur videos. Іf you're worried аbоut hоw уоu'll dо іt, we're hеrе tо help.

There аrе mаnу great ways tо gеt exposure wіth уоur videos suсh аs free submissions tо search engines suсh as:

Google video search
Yahoo video search
MySpace
YouTube
AOL
MSN
Media RSS feeds
RSS search engines
And more

You саn submit уоur video tо аll knоwn video search engines fоr free. Тhе top 10 sites fоr submitting videos (based оn market share) are:

YouTube
MySpace
Google Video
AOL
BING
StupidVideos
Yahoo Videos
Break
eBaums World
MSN

eMail Marketing - Are you a believer?

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000

You have probably heard this recently, “email Marketing is Dead,” Welll…..it’s a matter of opinion. And I don’t believe it is.

"Today's marketing success comes from self-publishing Web content that people want to share. It's not about gimmicks. It's not about paying an agency to interrupt others." David Meerman Scott

There are some valid reasons why everyone in business, should be including eMail Marketing strategies into their overall yearly marketing plans & initiatives:

According to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), email produces an ROI of $40.56 for each dollar invested.

Email marketing is inexpensive because all you need is an autoresponder, some content and marketing savvy. While you will have to pay for an autoresponder, you can create your own content and add your marketing savvy.

Traffic, social media and email marketing are all important assets to grow and nurture. However, email provides the most value because you can better command your subscribers attention and an email list is something you own.

It’s easy and inexpensive to target your database for the best results. You can separate customers based on the products they buy and then email them offers for similar products. You can collect personal data like their geographic location, interests and more to create more personalized correspondence. Subscribers can also share their preferences with you, so that you deliver with the frequency and type of content they wish to receive.

While not everyone opens every single email they receive, being in someone’s email inbox increases your chances of getting noticed dramatically.

The Importance of Offering Real Value & Overdelivering

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:50:00 +0000

As an online merchant, your customers cannot see your face. They cannot hear your voice when you are recommending your products, and they cannot see the emotions on your face when you are telling your customers what benefits they can derive out of your products.

The Internet is a level playing field for every Internet marketer and merchant out there. The sheer connectivity means that you can reach everyindividual in the world. You are not limited by geographic constraints andanyone can be your customer or client.

This is precisely why you should overdeliver. When every competitor ofyours has access to everyone in the market, your only way of winning the battleis to overdeliver, again and again. When you overdeliver, you present yourself as a person with the customer’sinterest at heart. You become a trusted friend and not a greed-driven marketerout looking for their money. Overdelivering is simply your only way todifferentiate yourself from your competitors.

You can start overdelivering by providing superb support for you customers. How many times have you been turned away with rude answers when asking about a certain product you purchased? Compare that with the number oftimes you have been provided very good service, as if you're being helped by apersonal friend. The ratio is just off balance, proving how scarce good customer support is. By providing excellent support to your customers andanswering to their every needs patiently, you will gain customers that are fiercely loyal to you because they know you have their best interest at heart.

When you provide excellent customer support, you're already ahead of most of your competitors. Take it a step further and think: in what other wayscan you over deliver to your customers?

One very good way is to give your customers a pleasant surprise when they make a purchase from you. For example, if a customer buys your cooking utensils, you might throw in a bonus recipe book for them. However, do not usethe bonus as an incentive for the customer to buy your products. Your products must be good enough to make the customer buy it in the first place, and the bonus must serve as a surprise element; you must not announce it in the product catalogue.

The final way is to build a long-lasting relationship with your customers. If a customer buys regularly from you, you should send greeting cards during birthdays and on every holiday, be it Christmas, New Year, Easter,even Chinese New Year! Your customer will again remember you as a friend, not abusiness associate, and will favour you above other merchants because of the warm relationship.

So, remember to start overdelivering today!

Access the Virtual Events Specialist and Camtasia Training Program Together!

Thu, 13 May 2010 14:15:00 +0000

It is evident that Virtual Events Support and Management will be one of the hottest niches in 2010. The stats are revealing of how many businesses are shifting their focus to delivering all types of Virtual Events to their different audiences. The problem is that the bulk of these businesses lack the skills, knowledge and time to effectively set-up and implement their Virtual Events. This is where you will come in!

Craig Cannings along with co-instructor Michelle Schoen had the opportunity to chat about the state of Virtual Events in 2010.

You can access this 18 minute interview as well as all the details on this new program by going to the below link.

PLUS, VAClassroom are offering a special course bundle package (Just for May) that includes both the Virtual Events Specialist Program as well as the new Camtasia Video Training for VA course together for one special price. Camtasia is the most widely used video and screencast production software on the web and will be a perfect compliment to your Virtual Events Training. Enrol today and receive two high calibre training programs at a $150 savings!

This special bundle offer will be available until the end of May 2010 so grab your seat now.

http://www.vaclassroom.com/socialmarketing/cmd.asp?af=1102648&u=http://www.vaclassroom.com/virtual-event-specialist

Tips for Getting Organized - A Virtual Assistant can Help You

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:44:00 +0000

Carlene , owner All Season Virtual Assistant, LLC offers the following tips to help business people organize better:

• Keep all your information in one place. Many people who use a computer for work have a to-do manager, a contact manager, a project management service, a wiki, multiple email accounts, lists, multiple online documents, or one of the many other services available for managing our information. “The trouble is that all those systems can make things a bit disorganized,” says Carlene. “You can simplify this and keep yourself organized in one simple step: keep all your information in one place.”

• Stop the interruptions. “Even the best intentions to get organized can go awry if you are continually interrupted by clients and colleagues wishing to talk to you either by telephone or in person,” says the virtual assistant. “The best way around this is to schedule your organizing during off hours, if possible. If not, schedule an appointment with yourself to focus on this activity, and during this time, let your calls go to voice mail and close your door to unscheduled visitors, if necessary.”

• Use rules to tame your email inbox. “Does it take you nearly all day just to sift through them to find out which ones you need to deal with now, which ones can be dealt with later, or which ones are just junk?,” she says. “Then create rules that filter important emails, such as from customers or clients from newsletter subscriptions.”

• Think delegation for elimination. Business owners should be focused on the big picture items that grow your business. “What you should not be doing is worrying about getting your invoices out, mailing products, providing troubleshooting help, scheduling your time, and all those other administrative duties,” says Carlene. “In fact, the more time you spend on all the minutia of running a business, the less time you'll spend on tasks that can actually grow your business. That’s why delegation to others, including a virtual assistant is vital.”

Effective Steps for Managing Anxiety

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:38:00 +0000

Have you ever been in a situation that brought on sweats, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath? You probably weren’t having a heart attack but an anxiety attack. If you suffer from anxiety disorders, learning to manage it is the first step to overcoming it.

Anxiety is characterized as extreme reactions to fearful situations. When someone follows you into a dark alley, those anxious feelings of a racing heartbeat and sweaty palms gives way to heightened senses and a rush of adrenalin that can save your life. This is the fight or flight syndrome.

In the case of frequent anxiety, the fearful feelings are dread of a particular situation and not the situation itself. Getting caught in traffic can cause an anxiety attack over what might happen when you get to work late. Starting a new job can bring on anxiety attacks. You don’t know anyone and fear of that unknown can send you into a panic.

Everyone experiences panic or anxiety in small ways. Like the fight or flight example, it can save your life. In new situations, we get panicky but when the outcome we fear fails to materialize, the anxiety stops. For someone with chronic anxiety, this is not the case.

Every situation that brings anxiety is not life-threatening. More than likely it is an extremely stressful situation that has brought on the anxiety as a way of dealing with it. Unchecked anxiety of this type can lead to depression.

If you suffer from anxiety attacks on occasion or a more frequent anxiety disorder, there are steps you can take to keep your anxiety under control.

1. See a professional. This is always a good first step. Self-diagnosis of any type of physical or mental condition is unwise and can be dangerous. A professional psychologist can help you understand your anxiety and prescribe medication or other effective techniques.

2. Get a good night’s sleep. During the sleep cycle, your body repairs itself. You feel more rested after several hours of restorative sleep, reaching the REM stage. Most people need eight hours a night which varies within an hour or two each way.

3. Exercise on a consistent basis. Exercise helps you to use oxygen more efficiently. It helps to get more oxygen to the brain. It also increases focus which may help you see solutions to problems rather than simply worrying about them.

4. Meditate. Meditation is more than chanting mantras. Yoga is an exercise that involves quieting the mind and controlling your breathing. Simple mediation such as taking 5 minutes to clear your mind everyday can work wonders in the fight against anxiety.

5. Manage the worry. When you feel your pulse start to quicken, count backwards from ten. As you count, focus on the situation. What has actually happened? Resist the urge to read anything more into the situation.

6. Don’t use alcohol. You might think that the glass of wine is relaxing your tension but alcohol is a depressant. In anxious situations you could rely too heavily on it and gain another problem in the process.

7. Find some relaxing activities. Stress can rob you of your energy. On a regular basis, do something you like such as gardening, painting, reading or listening to music.

Anxiety can come into your life at any time. It’s normal. When the anxiety becomes frequent you could be at risk for more serious conditions. If you feel your anxiety is starting to take over your life or increasingly causing you problems, seek professional help immediately. There is no need to suffer this terrible condition in silence.